March 30th: Last Day to sign up for Empire of the Ghouls, Open Design #3

[Vanuslux]

I find this patronage thing awesome in concept. If I weren't pretty broke at the moment I'd be all up on this even though I'm not sure I'd ever use such an adventure. Alas...this deadline couldn't have come at a worse time.

I wish more good designers were doing this sort of thing.

 

[Firedancer]

Vanuslux,

The good news is Wolfgang is just starting this project, his 3rd to date. Not sure how many over the required amount of patrons he has, but I would suspect he will move onto project 4 once this is done (later this year).

Open Design may continue as long as there are patrons, so check back you might find yourself in the right place at the right time.

 

[Vanuslux]

Vanuslux,

The good news is Wolfgang is just starting this project, his 3rd to date. Not sure how many over the required amount of patrons he has, but I would suspect he will move onto project 4 once this is done (later this year).

Open Design may continue as long as there are patrons, so check back you might find yourself in the right place at the right time.

At around 128 pages total, "Empire" will take a minimum five months to write plus time to playtest, edit and typeset.

That's going to be an awful long wait before 4 even gets sniffed at, hence my wish that there were other reputable designers mimicking the open design concept.

 

[Glyfair]

That's going to be an awful long wait before 4 even gets sniffed at, hence my wish that there were other reputable designers mimicking the open design concept.

I agree. Maybe they are waiting to see how Wolfgang is doing with it. Someone like Monte or Gary would give the concept a huge spike (not that it's going to happen in either instance).

Also, I imagine there are some considering it, but without the name recognition that Wolfgang has (and, IMO, that's only middling).

BTW, we are down to a handful of hours to join if you are considering it.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I agree. Maybe they are waiting to see how Wolfgang is doing with it. Someone like Monte or Gary would give the concept a huge spike (not that it's going to happen in either instance).

Also, I imagine there are some considering it, but without the name recognition that Wolfgang has (and, IMO, that's only middling).

In the hopes that I qualify as at least semi-reputable , I will say that having seen what Wolf's doing, the thought has certainly crossed my mind. So far, I've refrained from doing so for several reasons.

1) I have great respect for Wolf, and I would want to come across neither as ripping off what is very much his idea, nor as potentially taking business away from him with a similar/competing product.

2) Part of the appeal to Wolf's patronage system is that the patrons get to see the entire thing in process, can read essays on the various aspects of design, etc. While I'd certainly be happy to incorporate patronage feedback where I to do something similar, the truth is, I'm not sure they'd get their money's-worth out of it in terms of a "behind the curtain" look. I tend to design as much by instinct as by process, so there would be an awful lot of it that, when asked "Why did you do X?" my only answer would be "Because it seemed cool/felt right."

3) At least at the moment, I've got contracted stuff keeping me busy. Should that situation change and the income dry up, reasons 1 and 2 might seem a little less compelling.

 

[countgray]

Midnight is fast approaching!

Just a reminder that today (Friday) is the last day to sign up for Empire of the Ghouls project.

You have a few hours left to join. I think he will accept new patrons up until midnight Pacific time (west coast). Don't get left out!

Click here if you think you might be interested:

http://customadventure.livejournal.com/84390.html

This project is shaping up to be even more awesome than the last two!

 

[countgray]

Monster Poll

Wolfgang has put up a monster & encounter poll, patrons are voting on a list of 38 monsters, NPC's and encounters to be included in the adventure.

Each of the monsters and encounters was suggested by a patron. Some of the monsters are new monsters, some are open content monsters from d20 OGL sources, some are familiar monsters with a twist. They are all very cool and engaging encounters. The patrons have done a masterful job of suggesting challenges, and have put forth a very strong slate of candidates.

Wolfgang made some tweaks and wrote up short blurbs for each encounter on the list to present to the patrons.

Voting is going on now and is neck & neck. There are some hard choices to make as to what to include and what to cut. If you want to help select encounters for the project, head over and join today!